A leading day and boarding school for girls aged 11–18 set in extensive grounds in the beautiful Surrey Hills, Woldingham develops courageous, confident and compassionate young women through our empowered learning approach and values-driven ethos.
Its rural location is easy to get to. With Woldingham station adjoining the school grounds, London is just 30 minutes by train and the school is easily accessible for families in Surrey, Kent and Sussex.
The stunning mansion at the heart of the school sits alongside purpose-built Science labs, Humanities and Languages hubs, studios for Art, Drama and Music, a professional standard auditorium seating 630, and a state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre, which includes a lecture theatre, collaboration room and a café. As well as excellent outdoor sports facilities, Woldingham has a tennis dome for year-round play, an indoor swimming pool, squash courts, gym, dance studio, and a multipurpose sports hall hosting indoor cricket nets and Astroturf rollout pitches.
Woldingham’s approach to education is focused on empowered learning: inspiring students, treating them as individuals and equipping them to be independent, effective learners throughout their whole life. Girls achieve outstanding GCSE and A level results. In 2025, half of A level grades awarded were A*/A, with more than 80% A*–B. At GCSE, half of all results were at grades 9–8, with 70% at grades 9–7. Students secure places at leading UK and international universities, opening doors to exciting careers.
Students choose from a wide range of academic enrichment opportunities, including a vibrant talks series, bespoke leadership and coaching courses and real-life business projects. Alongside dynamic programmes for academic and co-curricular scholars, Woldingham has an exceptional programme of sport, performing arts, clubs and societies, which enables all its students to develop a comprehensive range of skills, expertise and interests.
The beauty and peace of Woldingham, its caring community, which feels like a big family, homely, well-equipped boarding houses, and experienced housemistresses, make it the perfect place to board. With full, weekly and flexi-boarding options, Woldingham offers flexibility to suit all families.
Woldingham puts wellbeing at the forefront of everything it does. In September 2025, the school opened a dedicated wellbeing centre, The Hub, as part of its commitment to caring for every student as an individual. Woldingham is one of a small number of UK schools offering timetabled wellbeing lessons, where each girl is supported to be mentally and physically healthy, equipped with critical thinking skills to make better decisions and manage challenges now and in the future.
One of the UK’s oldest girls’ schools, Woldingham’s staff are experts in teaching in an all-girls educational setting. The school’s supportive and stimulating single-sex environment enables students to grow into independent women who make a positive contribution to the world.
A Sacred Heart Catholic school, Woldingham warmly welcomes students of all faiths and none to a thriving school community founded on values derived from the Sacred Heart goals of faith, intellect, social awareness, community and personal growth.
Admissions. Main entry is via the Woldingham School Assessment in the autumn prior to entry for 11+, 13+ (standard and deferred entry) and 16+ candidates.
Scholarships. We offer the following academic and co-curricular scholarships, designed to recognise exceptional achievement, intellectual curiosity and persistence:
Academic, Art, Music, Drama and Sport Scholarships are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+. In addition, Performing Arts Scholarships are offered at 11+ and 13+ and Science Scholarships at 16+.
Bursaries. We are committed to providing bursaries, depending upon the financial and other pertinent circumstances of applicants. They are intended for girls who demonstrate strong academic potential and where the financial circumstances of the family will make attending Woldingham impossible.
Fees per term 2025-2026 (incl. VAT). Full boarding: £17,558–£20,438; Weekly boarding: £15,422–£18,074; Day (tuition): £9,926–£12,236; Flexi-boarding: from £96 per night.
Charitable status. Woldingham School is a Registered Charity, number 1125376.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Ms C Berwick, BSc SocSci Southampton
Head: Mrs S Baillie, BA Leicester, PGCE Cantab, FRSA
Deputy Head Academic: Ms N Weatherston, BSc Newcastle
Deputy Head Operations & Co-curricular: Mrs S Woolaway, BSc Open
Deputy Head Pastoral: Ms K Renshaw, BSc Leeds
Deputy Head Safeguarding: Miss T Bennett, BSc Durham, MSc Oxon
Director of Finance and Operations: Ms E Roche, BSc Leeds, ACA
Director of Boarding: Mrs P Whitby, BA Reading
Director of External Relations: Mrs C Mair, BA London
Head of Sixth Form: Mr P Abbott, BSc Cardiff
Assistant Head Empowered Learning: Mrs G Haythorne, MA Oxon
Heads of Department:
Art: Miss S Campbell, BA London Metropolitan
Biology: Mrs E Petty, BSc Birmingham
Business: Mrs C Abbott, BA Westminster
Chemistry: Mr P Currie, Graduate RSC Kingston
Classics: Dr J Dixon, PhD Manchester, BA, MA Liverpool
Computer Science: Mr D Sääw, BA Cantab
Design & Technology: Mr D Wahab, BA Brighton
Drama: Miss S Williams, BA Italia Conti Academy
EAL: Mrs T Carrilero, BA Spain
Economics: Mr C Johnstone, BA Galway, MEd Middlesex
English: Mr R Stott, MA Edinburgh
French: Mrs C Maillot, BA equiv. France
Geography: Mrs R Bush, BSc Bristol
German: Mr V Ceska, BA Czech, MA France
Higher Education & Careers: Mrs J Travis
History: Mrs A Housden, BA Kent
Learning Enhancement: Ms R Moorvan, BA South Africa, MEd Open University
Mathematics: Mrs R McKenna, BSc Cardiff
Media Studies: Mr S Maunder, BA Sheffield
Music: Mr R Hammond-Hall, BMus King's College London/Royal Academy of Music, MMus Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Physical Education: Ms J Leach, BSc Loughborough
Physics: Mr R Gupta, MSci Imperial
Politics: Mrs K Payne, BA Durham
Psychology: Mrs R Deaney, BSc Open, BMus, PG Dip RCM
Science: Mr P Rickard, BSc Bristol, BSc Liverpool
Sociology: Ms M Batka, BSc Leicester
Spanish: Mr A Lopez, BA Oviedo
Theology: Mr A Ross, BA Lancaster, MA St Mary’s, AIDTA [B]